Shade-holder for lamps.



No. 68!,582 I Patented Aug. 27, l90l. V

T. G. RICHARDS.

SHADE HOLDER FOR LAMPS.

(Application filed May 17, 1001.) v (No Model.) 2 Sheeis$heet I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR m m 2 u u A d e n Av a P S P M A SL MR 0 F H can M m H TE A H S (Application filed May 17, 1901.)

2 Sheets8heet 2.

(No Model.)

1N VE 1V TOR 2 Attorney Urrnn STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

THOMAS C. RICHARDS, WINSTED, CONNECTICUT.

SHADE-HOLDER FOR LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 681,582, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed May 17, 1901. Serial No. 60,740; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS (J. RICHARDS, of WVinsted, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shade-Holders for Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, cIear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in shade-holders for lamps, and more particularly forincandescentlamps, the object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device that can be applied to either end of an incandescent lamp and securely hold the shade in position, whether the lamp be upright, upside down, or projecting laterally.

YVith these ends in view my invention consists in the parts'and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing my improvement applied to the larger end of an incandescent bulb. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same applied to the smaller end of the lamp. Fig. 3 is a View showing it on an ordinary lamp-chimney. Fig. 4 is a view of the holder detached. Fig. 5 is a view in section of same; and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are similar views of modified formst A represents a beveled ring provided with an upwardly-extending flange a, havingan inwardly-bent edge 6. Secured to this beveled ring A by rivets or otherwise are the spring-holding arms B. These arms (preferably three) project below the ring A, and each is provided on its free lower end with the shoes 0, each of which is considerably longer than the arms are wide, are arranged with their long axes at right angles to the arms, and are curved to conform to and have an extended bearing on the lamp or chimney to which it is secured. These shoes may be integral with the arms or they may be soldered, riveted, or otherwise secured thereto, the main object being to provide enlarged bearing for the slender spring-arms against the surface of the lamp or chimney. The arms are made of spring metal to enable them to yieldingly clamp the lamp or chimney and are also bendable or adj ustable to permit them to fit lamps or chimneys of difterent sizes.

These arms pass up through elongated slots 01 in the bent edge I) of the flange a and are then bent inwardly to engage the neck of an incandescent lamp or the smaller end of a lampchimney and to center the holder on the lamp, and particularly when used on the larger end of an incandescent lamp I provide the bent edge I) with a series (preferably three) of inwardly and downwardly bent tongues e, which coming in contact with the bulb or chimney prevent contact between the beveled ring and bulb or chimney, and hence prevent the ring from becoming overheated. The upper ends of the spring arms pass through the elongated slots (Z, which allow free movements of the free ends in assembling a holder on a lamp or chimney, and as the arms are bendable it is an easy matter to adjust the arms to closely embrace any ordinary size or shape of bulb or chimney.

While it is not absolutely necessary, still for convenience in attaching the holder to and removing it from a lamp or chimney, I prefer to provide the upper ends of the arms 13 with outwardly-projecting thumb-pieces B, which can be readily grasped for spread ing the upper ends of the arms, thus disconnecting them from the neck of the lamp.

In order to secure the shade D on the holder, I have provided the bent edge of the ring A with a series (preferably three) of prongs f, made of soft and pliable metal to withstand the bending to which they are necessarily subjected. It will be seen at a glance that with these prongs bent over the smaller end of the shade the latter will be secured to the holder, and thus permitting the lamp to be used upright, upside down, or horizontally without the possibility of displacing the shade.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is substantially as above described, except that the spacing-tongues 6 instead of being integral with the ring are formed by bending the spring-arms into V shape inside of the ring A. Again, instead of forming the prongsf integral with the bent edge of the ring they may be cut out from the upper ends of the spring-arms, as shown in Fig. 6, or they may be separate from both and secured toeither by solder or rivets.

In Fig. 7 the prongs f employed 'for'holding the shade in place are formed separate from the ring and are secured thereto by rivets, as shown. When the shade holding prongs are formed integral with the ring, as shown at f, one or more of the prongs would necessarily have the grain of the metal transverse to the long axis of the prong, and hence would not stand bending to any great extent.

By constructing the prongs separate from the ring they can all be cut with the grain lengthwise, and hence will stand bending without danger of fracture. Again, by making them separate from the ring they can be made of greater width and ornamental in shape, which is impracticable when they are cut out from the body of the ring. Again, instead of rigidly securing bendable prongs to the ring the prongs may be pivoted to the ring and turned on their pivots, so as to overlap the upper end of the shade, as shown in Fig. 8, or, if desired, the prongs may each be made up of a series of pivoted sections, as shown'in Fig. 9. With this latter construction the sections can be turned to conform to varying heights and sizes of shades. In these devices employing pivoted prongs the joints are sufficiently stiff and rigid to maintain by frictional contact alone the prongs and sections in any adjustment in which they may be placed. Again, in the construction shown in Fig. 8 the spring-arms B are shown as bent or curved inwardly at points behind the ring, so as to provide for increased elasticity and movement of the upper ends of the arms. This device provides a convenient shade- .holder that can be attached to an electric lamp when the same is in its ordinary or common position by simply passing the smaller end of the lamp through the larger end of the shade-holder until the neck thereof is engaged by the upper ends of the spring-arms.

In cases where the lamps are used in the upright position the holder can be passed over the larger end of the lamp, while if the lamp be used horizontally the holder can be placed on the lamp either from the neck end or bulb parts herein shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction of parts herein shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Ashade-holdercomprisinga ring,springarms, each secured between its ends to said ring and projecting from both sides thereof, spacing-lugs projecting inwardly from said ring and separate, bendable shade-holding prongs located in a position to be turned over the smaller end of the shade.

2. A shade-holder comprising a ring having spring-arms projecting from both sides thereof, the free ends of the longer arms having elongated curved shoes arranged at right angles to the long axes of the arms.

3. A shade-holder comprising a ring,springarms each secured between its ends to said ring and projecting from both sides thereof, spacing-tongues for holding the ring out of contact with the lamp or chimney and separate bendable shade-holding prongs adapted to be turned over the smaller end of the shade.

4. A shade-holder com prisinga ring having spring-arms for engaging the lamp or chin1- ney on both sides of the ring, the longer arms each having an elongated curved shoe arranged at right angles to the arms and means engaging the smaller end of the shade for locking the latter in place.

5. A shade-holder comprising a ring having elongated slot-s therein, spring-arms secured between their ends to the ring with their shorter ends projecting through the slots and bendable prongs adapted to be turned over the smaller end of the shade.

6. Ashade-holdcrcomprisingaring,springarms secured between their ends to said ring for engaging the lamp or chimney on opposite sides of the ring, spacing-tongues for holding the ring out of contact with the lamp or chimney, and separate bendable prongs adapted to be turned over the smaller end of the shade.

7. A shade-holder comprising a ring having spring-arms projecting from both sides thereof, the shorter arms having outwardly-projecting thumb or finger pieces.

In testimony whereof I have signed'this specification in the presence of two subscrib= ing witnesses.

THOMAS C. RICHARDS. Witnesses: I

JAMEs W. THOMPSON, GEO. W. LAMB. 

